Banal Obsession

I don’t do this often as I usually leave my blog free of anything other than my illustration related news but I felt compelled by recent events to post something a little more personal. I found out yesterday that a dear friend took his own life earlier in the morning. He was a father, a son, a husband, a mentor and a beloved friend. Out of respect I will not give names or details beyond this but feel it necessary to comment on this tragic event in my own way.
I feel a great void in my soul as he was a huge figure in my life. My words only marginalize the pain his family must be going through right now and my heart aches for them. Never have I been so closely stricken by this type of tragedy. I don’t understand this and that’s the most frightening thing of all. Death is a natural part of life, but when something is ripped from you prematurely its effect is that of something so destructive to the human psyche one never truly recovers from it.
The helplessness of it all is something that I’ll never shake. So many “what ifs” litter my thoughts. I have only the fondest memories of our times together and will cherish that final hug I received the last time I saw him. I have so much more to say but words escape me at the moment.
Don’t wait to tell those you hold close that you love them. Let people know that they have made a difference in your life. I know anyone who has given me encouragement over the years to follow my dreams through the various means of contact has made my life meaningful. We don’t find meaning within ourselves but through the imprints we leave on others. Say you love them, and often.